pass vs Passky Server
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | pass | Passky Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,200 | ★ 244 |
| First released | 2012 | 2021 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, Bitwarden |
What are pass and Passky Server?
pass
pass is a minimalist password manager that stores each secret in a GPG-encrypted file, optionally versioned with git. It follows the Unix philosophy and works entirely from the command line.
- GPG-encrypted password files
- Optional git versioning and sync
- Scriptable command-line workflow
- Many compatible GUI and mobile clients
Passky Server
Passky is a simple and lightweight self-hostable password manager. The server component provides an encrypted backend that syncs with Passky web, desktop and mobile clients.
- Encrypted password sync server
- Lightweight PHP backend
- Web, desktop and mobile clients
- Two-factor authentication support
pass vs Passky Server: key differences
Pass is written in Shell, while Passky Server is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for pass versus GPL-3.0 for Passky Server. Pass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Passky Server. Pass is the more established project (first released 2012), while Passky Server arrived in 2021. Pass has the considerably larger community, at 4,200 GitHub stars versus 244. Passky Server lists first-class Docker deployment; pass does not.
Why pick each one
Choose pass if…
- Simple and transparent storage
- Composes well with other tools
Watch out for
- Command-line oriented
- Requires GPG knowledge
Choose Passky Server if…
- Very easy to set up
- Minimal footprint
Watch out for
- Smaller community and ecosystem
Frequently asked questions
Is pass or Passky Server better?
Neither is universally better. pass has the larger community, while Passky Server is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are pass and Passky Server free and open-source?
Yes. pass is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Passky Server under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run pass and Passky Server with Docker?
pass: check the project docs for container support. Passky Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, pass or Passky Server?
pass has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Passky Server. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.